Implantable sphincter assistance device with tuned magnetic features

Abstract

An implantable restriction device includes a plurality of beads and a plurality of links that join the beads together. The beads include a housing including a contact surface, a passageway extending through the hosing along an axis, and at least one magnet disposed around the passageway. Portions of the links are slidably disposed in corresponding passageways of the beads such that the beads are operable to transition between a constricted configuration and an expanded configuration. The contact surfaces of adjacent beads abut against each other in the constricted configuration. Adjacent magnets within adjacent beads generate an interactive magnetic field foxed on the abutting contact surfaces of adjacent beads.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An implantable restriction device, the implantable restriction device comprising:
 (a) a plurality of beads, wherein each bead comprises:
 (i) a housing comprising a contact surface, 
 (ii) a passageway extending through the housing, wherein the passageway defines an axis, and 
 (iii) at least one magnet disposed around the passageway, wherein the at least one magnet comprises at least one annular magnet, wherein the at least one annular magnet in at least one bead of the plurality of beads comprises:
 (A) an outer diameter that includes at least one chamfered corner or radiused corner, and 
 (B) an inner diameter that includes at least one chamfered corner or radiused corner; and 
 
   (b) a plurality of links joining the beads together, wherein portions of the links are slidably disposed in corresponding passageways of the beads such that the plurality of beads are operable to transition between an contracted configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the contact surfaces of adjacent beads in the plurality of beads are configured to abut against each other in the contracted configuration, wherein the at least one magnet of adjacent beads of the plurality of beads generates an interactive magnetic field extending along a field focused axis that intersects through the abutting contact surfaces of adjacent beads of the plurality of beads in the contracted configuration.   
     
     
         22 . The implantable restriction device of  claim 21 , wherein the outer diameter includes the first and second radiused corners. 
     
     
         23 . The implantable restriction device of  claim 21 , wherein the inner diameter includes the first and second radiused corners. 
     
     
         24 . The implantable restriction device of  claim 21 , wherein the contact surface includes a planar surface. 
     
     
         25 . The implantable restriction device of  claim 21 , wherein each bead of the plurality of beads includes a pair of contact surfaces configured to abut against contact surfaces of the adjacent beads in the contracted configuration. 
     
     
         26 . The implantable restriction device of  claim 21 , wherein the housing defines a magnet chamber configured to house the at least one magnet. 
     
     
         27 . The implantable restriction device of  claim 21 , wherein the magnets are configured to direct respective magnetic fields into suitable alignment with the contact surfaces of the beads. 
     
     
         28 . The implantable restriction device of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one radiused corner of the inner diameter has a dimension of approximately 0.005 inches. 
     
     
         29 . The implantable restriction device of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one chamfered corner of the outer diameter has a dimension of approximately of 0.015 inches. 
     
     
         30 . The implantable restriction device of  claim 21 , wherein the magnet includes first and second axially presented surfaces that in combination with the chamfered corner of the outer diameter and the radiused corner of the inner diameter are dimensioned to create a magnetic field having a stronger portion, an intermediary portion, and a weaker portion. 
     
     
         31 . An implantable restriction device, the implantable restriction device comprising:
 (a) a plurality of beads, wherein each bead comprises:
 (i) a housing comprising a contact surface, 
 (ii) a passageway extending through the housing, wherein the passageway defines an axis, and 
 (iii) at least one magnet disposed around the passageway, wherein the at least one magnet comprises at least one annular magnet, wherein the at least one annular magnet in at least one bead of the plurality of beads comprises:
 (A) a radiused inner diameter, and 
 (B) a radiused outer diameter; and 
 
   (b) a plurality of links joining the beads together, wherein portions of the links are slidably disposed in corresponding passageways of the beads such that the plurality of beads are operable to transition between an contracted configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein contact surfaces of adjacent beads in the plurality of beads are configured to abut against each other in the contracted configuration and be separated from each other in the expanded configuration, wherein the at least one magnet of adjacent beads of the plurality of beads generates an interactive magnetic field focused on the abutting contact surfaces of adjacent beads of the plurality of beads.   
     
     
         32 . The implantable restriction device of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one magnet includes first and second axially presented surfaces, wherein the geometry of the first and second axially presented surfaces in combination with the radiused outer diameter and the radiused inner diameter are configured to generate sections of magnetic fields that are aligned with the contact surface to promote the beads to impart forces on a lower esophageal sphincter of a patient due to magnetic attraction between the adjacent beads while the implantable restriction device is in the contracted configuration and the expanded configuration. 
     
     
         33 . The implantable restriction device of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one magnet includes a first axially presented surface, a second axially presented surface, an outer facing curved surface, and an inner facing curved surface, wherein the first and second axially presented surfaces in combination with the radiused outer diameter and the radiused inner diameter are configured to create a magnetic field having a stronger portion, an intermediary portion, and a weaker portion. 
     
     
         34 . The implantable restriction device of  claim 33 , wherein the geometry of the first and second axially presented surfaces in combination with radiused outer diameter and the radiused inner diameter is configured to generate sections of the magnetic field that are aligned with contact surfaces to promote stability between adjacent beads in the contracted configuration. 
     
     
         35 . The implantable restriction device of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one magnet includes a first axially presented surface, a second axially presented surface, an outer facing curved surface, and an inner facing curved surface, wherein the radiused outer diameter connects the first and second axially presented surfaces with the outer facing curved surface, wherein the radiused inner diameter connects the first and second axially presented surfaces with the inner facing curved surface. 
     
     
         36 . The implantable restriction device of  claim 31 , wherein at least one of the radiused outer diameter or the radiused inner diameter has a dimension of approximately 0.005 inches.
 (a) a series of beads interconnected to form a ring, wherein the ring is configured to transition between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration; and   (b) at least one annular magnet contained within each bead in the series of beads, wherein the at least one annular magnet comprises:
 (i) a first axially presented surface, 
 (ii) a second axially presented surface disposed opposite the first axially presented surface, 
 (iii) a radiused inner diameter, and 
 (iv) a radiused outer diameter, wherein the geometry of the first and second axially presented surfaces in combination with the radiused outer diameter and radiused inner diameter is configured to generate sections of a magnetic field that are aligned with contact surfaces to promote stability between adjacent beads in the contracted configuration. 
   
     
     
         38 . The implantable restriction device of claim  37 , wherein the geometry of the first and second axially presented surfaces in combination with the radiused outer diameter and radiused inner diameter are configured to generate sections of magnetic fields that are aligned with the contact surface to promote beads to impart forces on a lower esophageal sphincter of a patient due to the magnetic attraction between the adjacent beads while the implantable restriction device is in the contracted configuration and the expanded configuration. 
     
     
         39 . The implantable restriction device of claim  37 , wherein the at least one annular magnet of a first bead in the series of beads is configured to generate a first magnetic field, wherein the at least one annular magnet of a second bead in the series of beads is configured to generate a second magnetic field, where the first bead and the second bead are adjacent to each other, wherein the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field are focused substantially at a predetermined contact point between the first bead and the second bead. 
     
     
         40 . The implantable restriction device of  claim 39 , wherein the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field are most intense at the predetermined contact point such that the focused direction of the magnetic field relative to the contact surfaces is configured to improve stability between adjacent beads in the contracted configuration.